Three Khalistan Zindabad Force members involved in Gurdaspur grenade attack killed in police encounter
CHANDIGARH: Three suspects allegedly involved in the grenade attack at a police establishment in Gurdaspur were killed by the Punjab Police in a joint operation with UP Police in an encounter in Pilibhit.
Two AK-47 rifles, two Glock pistols, and a huge cache of ammunition were seized from them.
The three killed are identified as Varinder Singh alias Ravi of Agwan, Gurwinder Singh of Bhaini Bania Mohalla and Jashanpreet Singh alias Partap Singh of Shur Khurd in Kalanaur.
The module was controlled by Kalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) chief Ranjeet Singh Nita and operated by Greece-based Jaswinder Singh Mannu, a resident of Agwan village.
It was further controlled by UK-based Jagjeet Singh who used the identity of Fateh Singh Baggi.
The development come in less than a week after some unknown persons hurled a hand grenade at Bakshiwala Police Post under the jurisdiction of Kalanaur Police Station in Gurdaspur on December 18.
Pertinently, terrorist organisation KZF had used social media platform to claim responsibility for this act of terror.
Director General of Police, Punjab Gaurav Yadav said that the encounter took place after three module members opened fire at the police party.
The DGP said that the information received by the Punjab Police was immediately shared with the UP police and a joint operation was launched against the perpetrators.
Sharing operation details, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Border Range Satinder Singh said that suspects fled to UP and took shelter at Pilibhit.
He said that the Gurdaspur Police immediately informed the Pilibhit Police.
"Followingly, police teams from Gurdaspur moved to Pilibhit to launch a joint operation," he added.
"The police traced the accused persons and when confronted they opened fire at the police teams, prompting police parties to retaliate. During the exchange of fire trio of accused persons sustained bullet injuries and were immediately taken to CHC Puranpur for urgent medical treatment," he said.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gurdaspur Harish Dayama said that further investigations are going on to expose all connections and members of this terror module.
He said that more arrests and recoveries were likely in coming days.
A case was registered under sections 109 and 324 (4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and section 4 (5) of the Explosive Act at Police Station Kalanaur.
Sections 13, 16, 17, 18-B, 20, 35 and 40 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act have been added in the FIR.
Eight blasts took place at various police stations and police posts in the state in the last month.
Sources in state police said that the suspects in the eighth blast have been identified. They also added that the suspects behind five blasts have been identified and arrested, while two cases are under investigation.
Some 700 gm of RDX was recovered from the IED planted outside the Ajnala police station but it did not explode. The RDX and grenades were dropped by a drone and picked up by the local handlers.
It is suspected some quantity of RDX could still be with a few handlers. These handlers were under the supervision of foreign-based terrorists-cum-gangsters Happy Pashia, aka Passia, Happy Jat, Jeewan Fauji, Manu Baagi and Gopi Ghanshampuria.
In the other seven incidents, Austria-made Arges grenades likely from the old stock of the Pakistan army were supplied via drones from across the border.
They were received by the handlers of different modules of the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and the Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF).
Sources further said that some 11 other modules have been pre-empted as the ISI has adopted a new strategy to lure youth with money and promise safe haven abroad.